PADDY GERRARD, TRIPLE M CENTRAL COAST: Well, not too often do we have special guests in the studio, Mazzy, where people just don't want to turn up, do they?
MAZ COMPTON, TRIPLE M CENTRAL COAST: No, that's very true. We ask a lot of people to come in, and they just say that they're busy.
GERRARD: No. But our doorbell went off this morning, and who's dropped in? Emma McBride, our Federal Member for Dobell. Good morning, Em.
COMPTON: Hi, Emma.
ASSISTANT MINISTER EMMA MCBRIDE: Good morning, Paddy. Good morning, Maz. Good to be with you.
COMPTON: You too. Thanks so much for coming in.
GERRARD: Yeah. It's been a while between drinks, hasn't it, Em?
MCBRIDE: It has, Paddy. It has. It's just been such an opportunity with my role with mental health and suicide prevention to try locally and nationally to improve things for people and families, and I know that's something that's close to the heart of many of your listeners and to a caller that you had recently.
GERRARD: Yeah. That's right.
COMPTON: That’s right. We spoke to Mitch Hudson. He lost his daughter, 17 years of age, to suicide. Really tragic story.
GERRARD: Yeah, here's part of the interview.
[Excerpt]
GERRARD: So Ezaria was twice admitted to Gosford Hospital after overdosing in the week leading up to Christmas. And then, on the second occasion, you were told by doctors they were treating Ezaria for drug and alcohol issues, not mental health.
MITCH HUDSON: Yes. Exactly.
GERRARD: Right, what would you like, as a parent whose daughter suicided, what would you like for the government to take notice of this chat, and what would you like to see happen?
HUDSON: I'd love to see there be a review in all the policies and procedures and the guidelines because it's not working.
[End of excerpt]
GERRARD: Now, our hospitals are controlled by the State Government, and that's correct…
MCBRIDE: That's right, Paddy.
GERRARD: …But as federally, something can be done as well though, can't it?
MCBRIDE: It can. And Paddy, in Australia today, some nine Australians lose their life each day to suicide, and as we've heard from Mitch and Mitch's daughter, Ezaria, the tragic consequences for people and families that ripple through communities. And we know there's more that contemplate or have suicidal ideation. And when that happens, there's normally about three or four drivers of distress for that person. It might be underlying childhood trauma. It could be a problem at work. It might be a relationship breakdown. So, there's normally three or four drivers of that distress for the individual.
So as a government we've launched the first-ever National Suicide Prevention Strategy. And it was deeply informed by people's direct experience, by family members of people who had lost their own lives, and those who had survived to make sure that the system is better, that it better supports people, that it's more compassionate, that it provides wraparound support and care for individuals and their families.
COMPTON: Yeah. And I think just getting the awareness out there that there is a structure for these conversations because in my experience, I often hear this story where people go, I had no idea they were struggling because if you are struggling, it's so hard to ask for help. You don't want to burden anybody. You don't want to admit that things are too tough. So to know that there is at least a conversation and that there are things in place, numbers to call, places you can go to seek out some sort of help or to be heard, I think, is really important.
MCBRIDE: It really is, and that's why we're having that conversation in communities like the Central Coast and right around the country. So, for the first time, we've put mental health into Medicare. We know that today, your mental health is just as important as your physical health, and we're opening 61 Medicare mental health centres across the country and reducing the barriers to accessing support. You don't need a referral. You don't need an appointment. And it's free. We've opened one in West Gosford. We've opened one in Tuggerah. And someone can come in when they need some information or advice, or if they need more ongoing support and care for more complex or ongoing challenges.
GERRARD: So what do they search for that? What do they Google for that?
MCBRIDE: They can go to medicarementalhealth.gov.au to search that, or they can call the Medicare Mental Health phone line on 1800-595-212. And this is open nationally. And as I said, we've got services now open in Gosford and in Tuggerah, and you can walk into each of those services and they'll have someone who's had their own direct experience. We call them peer workers, who has walked in your shoes to help to break down that stigma and encourage that help seeking. And there's also social workers and psychologists and counsellors available and for free.
COMPTON: That's so important.
GERRARD: Well, that is so good. I'm glad you dropped in this morning just with that information.
COMPTON: Yes, thank you. That is such great information and so encouraging to know that it is on the agenda, it is being reviewed, and it is going to get better.
MCBRIDE: And if I can just say, Paddy, before we go, I will be also opening a kids hub very soon on the Central Coast because we know that young people are experiencing this earlier in life. So in the next couple of weeks, I'll be opening a Medicare Kids Hub for young children not to 12 experiencing social, developmental, or emotional challenges. It’ll be fully funded by the Commonwealth Government and run by the local health district to better integrate the services and to bring support and care for young children and families together under the one roof.
GERRARD: Good stuff, Em.
COMPTON: That is great news.
GERRARD: Well, listen, thanks for coming in, Emma McBride, Federal Member for Dobell. It's been good to see you, and great information too, Em. Thanks for that.
MCBRIDE: Thanks, Paddy. Thanks, Maz.
GERRARD: Cheers.
COMPTON: Of course. And remember, if you are in a crisis, help is available. You can call Lifeline at any time on 13 11 14.